A system for introducing a surgical instrument through a tissue lumen having: a surgical instrument； a sheath for preventing contamination of the tissue lumen； a dilator for dilating bodily tissue having an elongated body for positioning the dilator and a tapered section for facilitating dilation of the tissue lumen； and a cone having conical body that tapers from the proximal end to the distal end and facilitates insertion of the cone and the surgical instrument through the tissue lumen, an axial bore that extends longitudinally through the cone and receives an anvil retainer, a collar that engages the distal end of the surgical device and prevents lateral movement of the cone, grooves that engage the surface of the tapered section and reduce the friction between the cone and the tissue lumen, a securing device for securing the cone to the surgical instrument, and a retrieval device for retrieving the cone from a bodily cavity.
